Psalm 31

Psalm 31Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Psalm 31

A Plea for Protection

For the choir director. A Davidic psalm.

1 Lord, I seek refuge in You;let me never be disgraced.Save me by Your righteousness.2 Listen closely to me; rescue me quickly.Be a rock of refuge for me,a mountain fortress to save me.3 For You are my rock and my fortress;You lead and guide mebecause of Your name.4 You will free me from the netthat is secretly set for me,for You are my refuge.5 Into Your hand I entrust my spirit;You redeem[a] me, Lord, God of truth.

6 I[b] hate those who are devoted to worthless idols,but I trust in the Lord.7 I will rejoice and be glad in Your faithful lovebecause You have seen my affliction.You have known the troubles of my life8 and have not handed me over to the enemy.You have set my feet in a spacious place.

9 Be gracious to me, Lord,because I am in distress;my eyes are worn out from angry sorrow—my whole being[c] as well.10 Indeed, my life is consumed with griefand my years with groaning;my strength has failedbecause of my sinfulness,[d]and my bones waste away.11 I am ridiculed by all my adversariesand even by my neighbors.I am dreaded by my acquaintances;those who see me in the street run from me.12 I am forgotten: gone from memorylike a dead person—like broken pottery.13 I have heard the gossip of many;terror is on every side.When they conspired against me,they plotted to take my life.

14 But I trust in You, Lord;I say, “You are my God.”15 The course of my life is in Your power;deliver me from the power of my enemiesand from my persecutors.16 Show Your favor to Your servant;save me by Your faithful love.17 Lord, do not let me be disgraced when I call on You.Let the wicked be disgraced;let them be silent[e][f] in Sheol.18 Let lying lips be quieted;they speak arrogantly against the righteouswith pride and contempt.

19 How great is Your goodnessthat You have stored up for those who fear Youand accomplished in the sight of everyonefor those who take refuge in You.20 You hide them in the protection of Your presence;You conceal them in a shelter[g]from the schemes of men,from quarrelsome tongues.21 May the Lord be praised,for He has wonderfully shown His faithful love to mein a city under siege.[h]22 In my alarm I had said,“I am cut off from Your sight.”But You heard the sound of my pleadingwhen I cried to You for help.

23 Love the Lord, all His faithful ones.The Lord protects the loyal,but fully repays the arrogant.24 Be strong[i] and courageous,all you who put your hope in the Lord.

Psalm 31New International Version (NIV)

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1 In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;let me never be put to shame;deliver me in your righteousness.2 Turn your ear to me,come quickly to my rescue;be my rock of refuge,a strong fortress to save me.3 Since you are my rock and my fortress,for the sake of your name lead and guide me.4 Keep me free from the trap that is set for me,for you are my refuge.5 Into your hands I commit my spirit;deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.

6 I hate those who cling to worthless idols;as for me, I trust in the Lord.7 I will be glad and rejoice in your love,for you saw my afflictionand knew the anguish of my soul.8 You have not given me into the hands of the enemybut have set my feet in a spacious place.

9 Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress;my eyes grow weak with sorrow,my soul and body with grief.10 My life is consumed by anguishand my years by groaning;my strength fails because of my affliction,[b]and my bones grow weak.11 Because of all my enemies,I am the utter contempt of my neighborsand an object of dread to my closest friends—those who see me on the street flee from me.12 I am forgotten as though I were dead;I have become like broken pottery.13 For I hear many whispering,“Terror on every side!”They conspire against meand plot to take my life.

14 But I trust in you, Lord;I say, “You are my God.”15 My times are in your hands;deliver me from the hands of my enemies,from those who pursue me.16 Let your face shine on your servant;save me in your unfailing love.17 Let me not be put to shame,Lord,for I have cried out to you;but let the wicked be put to shameand be silent in the realm of the dead.18 Let their lying lips be silenced,for with pride and contemptthey speak arrogantly against the righteous.

19 How abundant are the good thingsthat you have stored up for those who fear you,that you bestow in the sight of all,on those who take refuge in you.20 In the shelter of your presence you hide themfrom all human intrigues;you keep them safe in your dwellingfrom accusing tongues.

21 Praise be to the Lord,for he showed me the wonders of his lovewhen I was in a city under siege.22 In my alarm I said,“I am cut off from your sight!”Yet you heard my cry for mercywhen I called to you for help.

23 Love the Lord, all his faithful people!The Lord preserves those who are true to him,but the proud he pays back in full.24 Be strong and take heart,all you who hope in the Lord.

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